Where Should You Start Reading A.R. Shaw?
If you are new to A.R. Shaw's survival thrillers, the absolute best starting point is her signature work, the Graham’s Resolution series. Beginning with The China Pandemic, this series showcases Shaw's trademark blend of military precision, emergency preparedness, and high-stakes survival realism. It follows Seattle math professor Graham Morgan as he navigates the immediate aftermath of a weaponized bird flu that decimates the global population.
For readers who prefer science fiction elements or environmental disasters, the Surrender the Sun series is another excellent entry point. Set in a post-apocalyptic ice age, it provides a different flavor of survivalism while retaining the intense pacing and character-driven focus of her debut works.
Graham's Resolution Series
This is Shaw's flagship series, depicting a realistic, grit-infused collapse of society and the slow process of rebuilding. To experience the emotional depth and logical progression of the survivors, you should read these books in their strict publication order:
- The China Pandemic (2013)
- The Cascade Preppers (2014)
- The Last Infidels (2015)
- The Malefic Nation (2015)
- The Bitter Earth (2018)
- The Wild West (2020)
- The Long Goodbye (2021)
- The Tender Harvest (2024)
- The Crimson Dawn (2024)
- The Distant Promise (2025)
- The Burning Ground (2026)
Surrender the Sun Series
Set against the backdrop of a freezing planet where a dying sun forces humanity to fight for warmth and resources, this series should be read chronologically to capture the full narrative arc:
- Bishop's Honor (2016)
- Sanctuary (2017)
- Point of No Return (2017)
- Savaged Earth (2022)
- Feral Earth (2023)
- Rough Earth (2023)
Dawn of Deception Series
A fast-paced post-apocalyptic trilogy that explores themes of trust, security, and human resilience under extreme pressure. It is best read in order:
- Unbound (2018)
- Undone (2018)
- Unbeaten (2019)
Remember the Ruin Series
Following Dane Talbot, a smokejumper and firefighter trying to find his footing and seek justice in a fractured world, this dystopian thriller series is written as a trilogy:
- Rebel Blaze (2019)
- Wayward State (2019)
- Grand Gesture (2021)
House of Light Series
When city violence becomes too much to bear following a societal collapse, a family flees into the wilderness, discovering a mysterious house where the lights never turn off. Read this trilogy in order:
- See the Light (2022)
- Saw the Light (2022)
- Save the Light (2023)
Watch the Wreckage Series
A science fiction survival thriller series revolving around Steve Glenning, a drone keeper living by his own set of rules in a declining world. Read this series in order:
- The Drone Keeper (2021)
- The Graceless (2023)
- From the Edge (2024)
Times of Trouble Series
A shorter companion trilogy focusing on the tough decisions made by ordinary people during global instability:
- In the Meantime (2023)
- In the Lean Times (2023)
- In the Rough Times (2023)
Disasters in a Jar Series
Unlike her serialized works, this is a collection of standalone, character-driven survival stories. Each "jar" functions as an individual experience during a localized or global collapse, and they can be read in any order:
- John's New Place (2023)
- Gwen's Misery Beach Cottage (2023)
- Jessie's Last Signal (2023)
- Dill's Chalet (2024)
- Ella's Queen Anne (2024)
Motel at the End of the World Series
If you prefer a lighter, mystery-focused take on the apocalypse, this trilogy introduces a "cozy apocalypse" setting. It follows Darrell, a motel manager, and his dog Bruno as they solve mysteries in a world where coffee is the most valuable commodity:
- The Coffee Killer (2022)
- Room Service Revenge (2023)
- The Crescent Motel (2023)
Kindle Worlds and Standalone Books
In addition to her primary universes, A.R. Shaw has contributed to licensed Kindle Worlds: Deception on Durham Road (set in Steven Konkoly's Perseid Collapse universe) and Kate's Redemption (set in Blake Crouch's Wayward Pines universe). For a complete change of pace, her standalone contemporary mystery novel The French Wardrobe (2016) offers a coming-of-age story outside her usual post-apocalyptic settings. She has also published a short story anthology titled Bite-Sized Offerings (2015) and a dystopian crime thriller novella titled Pretend You're Here.